Marriage in late Medieval Times?

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Question:

I have been researching information on medieval times for a while now, for the creation of my first ever properly researched story i am beginning to write!. I need to know a few basic things, but cant seem to find the answers to them!. Bare in mind i am speaking about late Medieval period, in england/UK (Its set in england)!.

1) When marrying, can the man be younger than the woman!?
2) If one of the people marrying is an orphan, with no family known at all, who allows s/he to marry her/him!? (i!.e!. whos responsible for him/her)
3) Can marriages be between those of different social status!?

Thanks Www@QuestionHome@Com

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:

1) The man would not be younger than the woman as a rule!. Remember at this time there was no "legal age"!. An exception would be an older wealthy widow who might marry a younger man!.
2) This would not really matter as in this case the person concerned would have no constraint on their marriage!.
3) Unlikely!.

4) and most important! It has now been ascertained through research that the majority of people in Mediaeval and Tudor times did not bother to marry at all! It was only the wealthier classes, where legal title to property was involved, who bothered to marry!.
It was not until much later that it was required that all marriages had to be performed and recorded at parish churches, and a promise of damnation for bastard and unbaptized children influenced the tend for marriage amongst lower classes!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

I'm not sure Y!A counts as properly researched, but this should answer your questions!. Www@QuestionHome@Com

krust krabWww@QuestionHome@Com